ABP AMERICANBIOETHICS PROJECT

Overview

Three professional societies consolidated in January 1998 after their members approved a merger the previous year. The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities brought established communities in bioethics, health humanities, and ethics consultation into one national association. Its creation followed decades in which these interests had developed through separate organizations.

ASBH provided a shared professional forum and developed resources for health-care ethics consultation, including Core Competencies for Healthcare Ethics Consultants and a professional code. Those materials addressed the practice and responsibilities of consultation as bioethics became more established in health-care institutions.

Historical Role

The merger marks a phase of professional consolidation, not the founding of all the activity now gathered under the association's name. Its predecessor societies retain distinct histories and should be represented as such.

Historical Significance

A national association through which bioethics, health humanities, and ethics consultation developed a shared professional setting.